Nghe An provincial leaders offer flowers to commemorate Gac Ma soldiers

Also attending were leaders of the Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda Department, the Provincial Party Committee's Organization Department, the Provincial Fatherland Front Committee, the Department of Education and Training, the Cua Lo Town Party Committee, the Thai Hoa Town Party Committee and Nghe An Newspaper...

The delegation offered incense to commemorate the soldiers of Gac Ma. Photo: Manh Hung

Comrade Hoang Nghia Hieu - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, on behalf of the delegation, offered a basket of fresh flowers to the souls of the martyrs. Photo: Manh Hung

The delegation visited Gac Ma Museum. Photo: Manh Hung

On March 14, 1988, China brazenly sent a powerful force of warships to attack and invade Gac Ma Island (Truong Sa archipelago), killing 64 soldiers while on duty on the island.

Gac Ma has entered the tragic history of the nation with the image of soldiers holding the national flag tightly despite the artillery fire. The fallen soldiers have formed an "immortal circle" forever engraved in history books, writing a heroic and tragic epic about the spirit of sacrifice, adding to the glorious tradition of fighting to build and defend the country in the history of the Vietnamese people.

Photo: Manh Hung

The delegation listened to the explanation about the Gac Ma incident. Photo: Manh Hung

The Gac Ma soldiers memorial area is located in the center of Bai Dai, Cam Hai Dong commune, Cam Lam district, Khanh Hoa province.

Construction began in 2015 and was inaugurated in 2017. The Gac Ma Memorial Area has many components, including the Monument, Underground Museum, Wind Tomb, Peace Square, and green campus.

The project was built with the efforts, enthusiasm and contributions of people across the country in terms of finance, intelligence, enthusiasm and the desire to express gratitude, remembrance and deep gratitude to those who fell for the sovereignty of the sea and islands in the event of March 14, 1988.